GRAHAM KLEIN PLEADS GUILTY IN TITTAENSOR: SEX OFFENDER AVOIDS JAIL DESPITE BREACHING REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In March 2021, Graham Klein, also known as Peter Jones, a convicted sex offender residing in Tittensor, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found guilty of multiple violations related to his obligations under the sex offenders' register. Despite serving a previous sentence for indecent assault, Klein’s recent breaches involved a series of deliberate attempts to conceal his identity and evade police oversight.

Graham Klein, aged 75, was initially placed on the sex offenders' register for a period of ten years in 2011 following his conviction for indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 14. His original conviction and subsequent registration imposed strict legal requirements, including the obligation to inform authorities of any changes to his personal details, such as his name, address, or bank accounts, and to complete annual registration procedures. However, Klein’s actions over the years demonstrated a pattern of non-compliance and deception.

Prosecutor Lynette McClement outlined the details of Klein’s violations during a court hearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. She emphasized that Klein was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, on November 18, 2011, after being convicted of indecently assaulting a girl under 14. The court had mandated that he register his details and inform police of any changes, but he repeatedly failed to do so.

Specifically, McClement detailed that on July 23, 2014, Klein signed a deed poll changing his name from Graham Klein to Peter Jones. Despite this, he did not notify the police of his new name, which was a direct breach of his legal obligations. Further violations included signing official forms as Graham Klein during required address updates with Cheshire Police on August 2, 2014, August 1, 2015, and January 11, 2016. Additionally, in October 2017, Klein obtained a new passport in the name of Graham Klein but failed to register this with authorities.

His non-compliance persisted with repeated signing of 'no change' forms in December 2017 and December 2018, both under the name Graham Klein, despite having changed his name legally. In October 2019, he filled out a 'change of address' form with Staffordshire Police, again signing as Graham Klein, and on the same day, provided bank details for a Post Office account, still under his original name. The following year, in October 2020, Klein failed to complete his annual registration, a critical requirement for sex offenders.

His arrest on November 5, 2020, uncovered further evidence of his ongoing deception. Police found multiple bank accounts in the name of Peter Jones, including accounts with Barclays and NatWest, which Klein had not disclosed. Authorities also recovered documents related to British Gas and council tax, all bearing the name Peter Jones. During police interviews, Klein claimed he believed he had only been on the register for eight years, not ten, and asserted that he had attempted to contact Longton police station seven times to complete his registration but was unable to get through. He also argued that he did not think he was required to register bank details with the police.

Klein explained his decision to keep some records under his original name, stating he did not want certain individuals to discover his new identity. Prosecutors highlighted that his choice to adopt a common name like Peter Jones was a strategic move to hide his past from the public and authorities, making it easier for him to live a double life undetected.

In court, Klein pleaded guilty to six charges of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register. As part of his sentence, he received an 18-month prison term, suspended for two years. The court also ordered him to undertake a 30-day rehabilitation activity and adhere to a three-month electronically monitored curfew from 7 pm to 7 am.

Earlier legal history shows Klein’s long-standing issues with the law. In August 2012, he unsuccessfully challenged his conviction on human rights grounds, claiming his trial was unfair. His previous conviction in November 2011 involved five counts of indecent assault against two young girls, with a jury convicting him of five charges and acquitting him of a sixth. During that trial, Klein, then 66 and residing in Winghouse Lane, Tittensor, denied the allegations but was found guilty after a lengthy process.

His defense argued that the offenses, committed between 40 and 32 years prior, involved minor physical contact and did not warrant immediate imprisonment. His poor health and the impact on his partner, who was housebound following a serious accident in 2009, were cited as mitigating factors. The judge, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones, acknowledged Klein’s manipulative demeanor during the trial but emphasized the importance of accountability.

Ultimately, Klein was sentenced to a suspended eight-month prison term, with two years of supervision and participation in a community sex offenders’ program. Despite his convictions, Klein remains in denial about his past, and his name will be on the sex offenders' register for ten years. He is also formally disqualified from working with children, reflecting the ongoing restrictions imposed by his criminal record.